Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6601

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Llewellyn-jones D.
It's conference time again
British Medical Journal 1995 Sep 23; 311:817
http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/311/7008/817

Abstract:

In a Personal View, the author refers to a glossy brochure advertising an international conference. He notes that at least two-thirds of the 30 speakers had been present at the last such conference. They were on the well-remunerated conference circuit and although they are good communicators, he doubts whether they would have anything to say not already published and accessible more cheaply. The expected 6000 delegates would not be delegates but would in fact be paying participants. There follows a discussion in extenso of the disadvantages and costs of attending such a large conference with an ironic reference to ‘good things’ such as the hospitality rooms of the major pharmaceutical companies. The article ends with a plea to readers to insist on smaller conferences on specific topics with time for talking to each other and to the experts.

Keywords:
*analysis/United Kingdom/Australia/